Trouble starting car on the first try

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bill_325i

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I am having problems with my car (87 325i) starting sometimes. It seems like it happens more often when the car is warm (when it has been run in the last several hours). I will try to start the car but it will just crank. If I stop, wait a couple seconds for everything to stop moving and then try again, it starts right up. I have never had to try a third time, starts on the second try like it never had any problem. I do get the smell of gas every now and then from the car which makes me wonder if I have a fuel leak, but I don't think a small leak would effect the starting of the car like this.

Thanks for the help

Bill
 
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hosagod

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I HAVE THIS EXACT PROBLEM!

It dies out on the first try, then immediately starts on the second try...

It seems really weird, but I don't let it bother me, as it does happen on some days more than others...weird!

Let me know if you find out what the problem is...sorry I couldn't be of any help!
 
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Maggie9898

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Your starting problem

Okay okay - I'm a girl, but besides that...............I made the tragic mistake of trusting three mechanics and BEGGING them to replace my accumulator ....so, two new fuel pumps, two new fuel lines, timing, etc., the original problem I wanted them to address proved TRUE...it was my accumulator! Starts on a dime now....

NEVER had cold start problems - so, we checked vacuum leaks, did a fuel pressure check and then put the two new pumps in.....such idiots......still had the warm start problem after $1900....so please get her up on the hoist - pull the line and check to see if your accumulator's diaphram is shot. Then check to see if your fuel pumps are kicking out enough power.......you're probably having fuel bleed off somewhere.....start from the tank - and work your way forward......

hope this helps.....and you can get accumulators from anywhere - Auto Hauz in Arizona - excellent prices - but Bavarian Auto will match any price you find and their tech support guys are incredible....also - getting a Bentley manual or the Haynes is great - Bentley's better for diagnosing...but the Haynes is awesome for detailed fixes....

Best of luck.

I know..........a girl - who asked me................

:))

Mary
 
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bill_325i

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Starting problem

Thanks for the tip! I will check that out today and see about getting a replacement part... Do you know how to diagnose a bad accumulator? I checked my chiltons manual and it doesn't even have the fuel accumulator listed!

I'll let you guys (and gals!) know how it works out once I get this thing diagnosed.

Thanks,
Bill
 
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Maggie9898

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bill_325i said:
Thanks for the tip! I will check that out today and see about getting a replacement part... Do you know how to diagnose a bad accumulator? I checked my chiltons manual and it doesn't even have the fuel accumulator listed!

I'll let you guys (and gals!) know how it works out once I get this thing diagnosed.

Thanks,
Bill
Click to expand...
mine is located right next to my main fuel pump under the car - my beemer has two fuel pumps - one in main tank and one under the hood.....if you pull the hose from the front end of the accumulator - if fuel is spurting out - the diaphram is shot - there are three levels of fuel pressure - and when the engine is off it is referred to as "rest pressure".. the accumulator works to maintain pressure without letting the fuel bleed back into the pump..check your manual - I don't like Chilton's frankly - tell me what year/make/model you drive again...I can do a little homework....

P.S. it takes about a minute to see if your accumulator is shot...also check your fuel lines to see you don't have a leak....and if after your second crank, she starts up....you are bleeding off somewhere....and the reason she fires up the second time is that you NOW have fuel in the line........if it's consistent, it may just be that....

go online to google and also do a search for warm start problems with your year/make/model...Chilton's won't help much..

also - email Bavarian Auto - www.bavauto.com....they have great techs and you can often email them with a question - they are GREAT with the Kjetronic and CIS system - which you probably have - CIS.....

let me know if I can help any further....

oh oh - girl giving ideas.........WHAT's happening in this world anyway...
 
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Maggie9898

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also one - more suggestion
simple stuff - fuel filter, air filter, is your oxygen sensor functioning - make sure your air/fuel mixture is correct.....and how's your timing. also - when's the last time you had your injectors replaced/cleaned? injectors can also give trouble on warm starts.....you can replace 'em yourself - much cheaper than having it done - but make sure you run injector cleaner through few times before you replace - you didn't say how many miles you have?
 
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ldzpstnr

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Does that year of a 325i have a cold start injector? My 87 325(with an e motor) does have a cold start injector. I know in 1988 bmw did eliminate the cold start injector on the "e" car. When the cold start injector fails it can leak extra fuel into the intake manifold of the car, causing it to be hard to start while its warm. But I dont know if you car has one or not, not sure if the first imported 325i's had them or not.
 
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bill_325i

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Not sure abou the cold start injector, I'll have to get my manual out and check this. I have a bentley on the way and a 'factory manual' on cd, supposedly, hopefully one of these manuals is halfway decent (unlike chiltons!). I did check on my air filter, plugs,. etc.. I have a new fuel filter I need to put on also. Thank you for all the help! I have many things to check on this old beast now, hopefully one of them fixes my problem.

oh, the car is about to break the 200K mile mark (i'm about 600 miles away). I tried running some injector cleaner stuff in there, it didnt seem to make a difference. I think this car has a recently replaced engine, i was told when i purchased the car that the engine is new and has 30K miles on it only.. maybe they cleaned or replaced the injectors then? I have to get a carfax on this thing and see if it lists any of that stuff..
 
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Maggie9898

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me again

the main issue here - is you are having a HOT start problem...and that really narrows it down.....

your fuel pressure is bleeding off somewhere - either your oxygen sensor may be faulty, but somewhere the engine is not getting fuel - obviously - leaking fuel injectors don't spray the proper angle and hit the rail, but like you said - once it starts, it starts....I'm not sure if that year has the accumulator - I'm more up to date on my 83 320i, and are you running a CIS system? seriously - try to contact someone at Bavarian Auto.....with a tech question - they also have GREAT manuals regarding CIS systems......but it seems - either you have a sensor out - which is not giving the right message to push fuel through the line - have you gotten under the car to see if your fuel lines are okay? have you checked to see if you can "hear" your fuel pump or pumps kicking on? Do you have a rear pump in your main tank? if you have one, and it's shot [it's behind your rear seat]......you could be putting undue pressure on your main pump which is doing double duty....and then check the fuel lines from there.....do you get a gas smell? does it ever backfire....does it sound like it's starving for fuel? you can take it to a mechanic and have a fuel pressure check done for about 1/2 hour or hour of labor charge......GREAT way to check and possibly see where's she's bleeding off...but dont' be mislead...I had a pressure check done, they STILL didnt' check the accumulator and that's ALL it was............how's your fuel pressure regulator doing? do you have a charcoal canister which can be clogged and starve off fuel....but you need to start from the main pump and go forward.....
 
jrt67ss350

jrt67ss350

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I think the accumulator is a 320i thing - I'm almost positive that the 325/325e/325i doesn't have an accumulator. These engines use the Bosch Motronic fuel injection system, not the KJetronic or CIS system.

By the way, the 325i engine does NOT have a cold start injector - those are only on the eta engines in the 325/325e.

This could also very well be the fuel pressure regulator - the fuel pressure regulator is a small canister mounted at the fuel rail on the front of the engine that has a fuel line connected to one side and a vaccum line connected to the other. Other than that, it's probably a fuel pump related issue.
 
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